JAPAN AND AUSTRALASIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 205, 19 August 1908, Page 2

JAPAN AND AUSTRALASIA.

Xliii MJKXtf

VIMVS OF OLLi Ua,)«LAiOKS.

Hy -Telegraph.-* u: hs Association. Wellington, Lllst iN) t _ wliici h , - n I 1110 ■ Alm 'r>i , un lleet, 1 J ':' d J ust c01 »e to a close, is ail ,<»ent ot no ordinary signihtaiuv i. sob . uous to everybody in proportion as involved' 1 !" iiU "; 1 ' " ild »» L '™itional, imolud and embodied i u thy Heel's progress round the world are rewmi-'- ?, T " m ?"y ,;10 donjjt t-iic visit" 01"; Whs great white sijuauron of the (.'ailed whites was primarily an occasion for pleasure anil holiday-making, but icislators have recognised Unit there was suiuetlung above ana bevond this—something which, if not 'immediately, at any rate m the llot distant future will be manliest in the political ideal i and ambitions of the people, and in the groujimg of nations for purposes ol wdtpohtik.

Willi this idea iu 'hijj mind, u representative of th e L'res.s Association on the trip from Auckland to Wellington interviewed a number of legislator® for the of giving the public some notion of tiie views which prevail in tile active political on a question of iirst-ratc importance, not only to Now Zealand, but also to the Umpire. Illy interviewer reminded members that Cjroat Britain had contracted an alliance of a very definite nature with .Japan, primarily, it is alleged, for the' protection of her great Asiatic interests, which interests do not much concern the Australasian dominions of the King, whilst those dominions in turn are, it would seem, becoming more and | move conscious of till on- complete waeord with the policy of the United Mates in the J*aiMlie.

Sir Joseph Ward fa id that iu his po<" sition as Prime ilinistvr of New Zealand it would lie improper for him to express any opinion whatever on the policy of the Anglo-Japanese alliance. «itili regard to the visit of the Ameri can fleet there never could be any doubt that all who lmj seen itjin Auckland harbor had been deeply impressed with the great possibilities of its future growth and development. The whole proceedings during the stay ol title fleet had been affected by the spirit of mutual esteem, friendship and cooperation, and, from the Admiral downwards every member of the licet llnd been gratilied in the truest sense .with the sterling enthusiasm begotten of natural all'raity to the Jiiiglish-speaking races. "There lias been nothing syco- , phantic on either side," said yir Joseph, "and let me say so far as New; Zealand is concerned that while we have profound respects, lor our Ameri- I can cousins we recognise our own Old Country as tile 'right bower' for New, Zealand. Xo one can foresee what liir'

future expansion of the trade of th.i I'acUic- will be, but it 15 quite certain, that yotUi Great Britain ami the United States recognised that Sheir common interests call for tile preservation of territories in the l'aeilic against tile domination of Eastern colored races, and in Unit aim 'both our sympathies and efforts go in one direction,. 'i'lie I'acilii' musk be preserved for the use of the predominant white race, and 1 have litI tlo doubt that the American Admiral and liis clever coadjutors holding responsible positions in the American fleet are fully alive to tilie fact that Great Britain and nor dominions be yond tile sea are at one with the citi zens of the United States of America in upholding that ideal.' Mr. Massey, Leader of tlie Opposition, remarked that tile visit »f flw' American licet would undoubtedly be productive of good, "but," he said, "I tun not one of tlliose who think it ne|; ccssary to cultivate friendship with America as provision -against possible troublo in the Kast. lam quite certain that America is just 113 likely to require the assistance of the British navy as Britain js to require assistance of the American." Mr. Massey also said he hoped the Auckland public - tha t Anckl it*! tlU ' OCCIUiO "' ,mdersto( >'i inn n ll re I )resl 'ntwl tile Uomini" tl " s " eei > s ion just as tho Uominion epresented tlie whole Empire. iho Hon. (_,. Louisson, after mg gratification at the highly satisfacly manner in wliklh the Auckland people had aeqmtted themselves s] o"! u ' it «'as the duty of both tlTe jialions to p 0 ?i C e th 'i-jj and America would go in the direction 0 smoothing over and preventing w gws»

visii 10 J 1 ?!' - ( ;;"''"' ross l00l « »i>™ the V 1 01 ll "' Heet as a very significant event. A union of Engli.hlpeat"',,, about'th' St lmve t i , ° " ,lect of '•briSgta^ , U, e of tlie world. "I said to one o{ tile American officers" Mr Carncross declared. "•After the wt'CVi 011 W ° Uld 011 !10t ' Mud it a to „ coni,i a "<l bombard this replied ' . u?,lt h ' r 11 moment and i licil hit, 1 .wouldn't come,'" ira « ed thai Z " ? l K Spokc demonstratnr L 0 spoko t!: ° m t,le ''"art." .Mr. Eraser said lie took no imtience with those who affected to fhd m the Anglo-Japanese alliance t i,L to Ko giod feeling w ic.t or Utilisation of colonial ideals of Policy iii the Jiast. « Wo ' l'; n „ wlut tol(l '''. saitl Mr - Eraser, "that some white nation or other is coming to Mows with tli« Japanese, hut I think Japan has no present intention of making a doscent upon us, and it does not require extraordinary perspicacity to 1 !? e tlui t When the day comes for a conflict between the white and yellow T oples we shall aol ]laV e to look t« the American fleet, but to tho unitvd r Ll^ r ° Pe '? ™ dicatc tlie titles ol Hit white races' supremacy. On the tl-J when the foist and West are arrayed against one another, the British eet Will be in the Pacific as strong,lt nation Cl '' ' tlwt ° f olhor >

™?, " g 0 P ro 'P cr »lonial pom, of view was that an alliance with America would effectually restrict colored immigration, whereas the liHo•lapaiiese nllianco to some extent prevented that restriction, "but," » a id Mr Lang;, "I do not think there is any real dang-er of a conflict between the yellow and the white races so far as we ourselves are concerned. It is to he remembered that if any foreigners sent some of their ships here to attack 11(5 tho.v would weaken their own home loots and expose themselves to a raid by the British lleet. If war should ever take place between liroat Britain >nd nT!, Perfectly certain that the British lleet would he in these waters .before the outbreak of hostilities. Ia any case we are not in a position to dictate to the Admiralty. The defence of the Umpire is ill the hands' of tho Home authorities who may be supposed to understand lite difficulties and problems involved and to have made provision accordingly. 31r. Poole said the visit of the fleet was one of the greatest events 111 the history of New Zealand, it had intensified the friendship .between the two peoples and 110 doubt helped extend our inllueuco in regard to trade with other lands. "The licet," said Mr. Poole, "has .been a revelation to New Zealand and New Zealand has 'been a revelation to the Americans. Jt was a sublime diplomatic move 011 the part of President KooScvelt to send the wlhite squadron to foreign waters. It is quite evident from the equipage of the ships and plans of the cruise, that ail effort is being made to eall tile military faculties of the Hast to attention. I ill view s of any jwssible international : complications. The absence of anv ef- [ feetive British lleet from l'acilic waters, and the advent of a battleship squadron from the United States have called forth both regret and delight, and as Australasia looks whh misgiving uj >o!l I lie piesviit Eastern situation the most natural development is closer union with Anglo-Saxon people of America, but unfortunately the Anglo-Japanese alliance seems to be the obstacle in the way of closor union. ill'. Ngala said the materia) of the lleet satisfied the eye with the outward semblance of concentrated power; Che personnel created an impression 011 the imagination and heart, of our people that would deepen .with growing intercourse and an enlarged vision of common interests and aspirations in the

i'ticilio. Tlii! ]>vwliiininniK'« of the Japanese navy u'ail tin; innllicioncy of llio llritish si|iiiiilions in tilie Pacific to protect British interest* pvc-iCTiicd a |,vol>loiii for immediate consideration of Australasian statesmen. Tilt l I'nitml .Slates siv.miHl to rocotfaise the gravity of the situation.